Introduction
For all Iraq鈥檚 extraordinary difficulties over recent decades, today the country is enjoying an increasingly positive mood. ISIS has been driven from its last territorial holdings, oil revenues are improving, and the next national elections鈥攖he fifth since the fall of Saddam Hussein鈥攁re on track for May of this year.
As Iraq looks ahead to a post-ISIS future, numerous challenges lie ahead. Iran is doing its best to interfere in this May鈥檚 election and beyond, relations between Baghdad and the three Kurdish provinces remain problematic, the economy is in dire need of liberalization, and in the aftermath of ISIS the reconstruction and reconciliation needs are vast.
Addressing these challenges satisfactorily will require ongoing, close ties between the United States and Iraq. This report provides an update on Iraq鈥檚 economy and politics in the wake of the victory over ISIS, reviews current U.S.-Iraqi ties and looks at where they can be improved, and discusses key unresolved issues in the U.S.-Iraqi relationship.